Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hello to all; Can anyone tell me if I have the correct wiring info on this horn relay. I looked at the schematic, and labeled what I though was right, but now I am second guessing it. I labeled it H- for the Horns. B- for the Battery and S- for the switch on the steering wheel. Should H- and S- be reversed.

Dave O

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From what I can see your labels look to be correct. The open or fixed relay contact is at H and S looks to have a blob of solder in which a fine reddish wire coming from the coil should be attached. That only leaves the middle terminal as B which would connect with the moving part of the contact probably thru the relay core and its mounting and to one end of the coil.

Here is part of a diagram showing the relay.

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Fist off thanks Howard, secondly; so what does the steering column horn switch do in relationship in the the relay. There is full 6V power in the relay from the battery. There is an open point system to operate the horns. Does it connect power to the open point to close it?. It can't be a grounding. So many questions.

Dave O

I'm sure the posters here already know this so the comment is intended for others who may come along later with a similar question.

Keep in mind the horns on Packard and on most older cars typically work by a ground rather than by the switch supplying power. In other words, the horn button completes a ground to the relay which in turn supplies power to the horn.

One end of the relay actuating coil is connected to power at the B terminal and the other end of the coil is connected to the horn button from the S terminal where it is grounded to complete the circuit and close the relay points to sound the horn

Here is a horn ring assy diagram that was used starting with 41 Clippers and was the same electrically for all thru 54. It is of a 47 wheel but shows the components and how the ground path starting with the steering shaft connects thru pieces to the contact area of the horn ring. When the ring is pushed, contact to ground is made and then sent back out to the wire running thru the steering shaft and finally ending at the relay S terminal.

While the electrical path is the same thru 54, the way the horn ring mounts to the wheel and how the horn button emblem is removed changed. 41-47 the horn ring is held by three small screws accessed thru holes drilled in the hub on the bottom side of the wheel. The emblem is in several pieces all held in the horn ring assy by a chrome ring and is not as easily removable as other years and type wheels. In 48-54 models the emblem is one piece and comes off with a push and slight twist CCW. 3 screws in the front side visible when the emblem is removed hold the ring to the wheel.

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Thank you all for your tutorial. I have never been much of an electrical person. But I enjoy learning as much as I can and find it rewarding and stimulating. Once I understand it, I've got it. But sometimes I just feel the need to understand it. During the total rewire of this car there were many times I didn't understand why Packard spliced where they did, but I just followed the schematic and didn't question it too much. I'm getting close to being done, there will be no old factory wire left in this car. I just hope I didn't screw it up.

Thanks again, you all make me feel much better when I question something.

Dave

do you hear the relay clicking when you mash the horn button? Another test is to ground the switch terminal. like to use a jumper wire and just temporarily touch the switch terminal. that should make it click also (energised). If tou cak, put a 12V test light on the horn terminal and it should light when the relay is activated.

I had a similar problem once, and it was a head-scratcher. Have you checked if the relay is getting power? If you're dealing with a bosshorn, sometimes it's just a matter of a loose connection or a worn-out relay. Sometimes, a simple test with a multimeter can save you a lot of guesswork. Also, ensure all the connections are tight and clean; even some corrosion can mess things up.
If it still doesn’t work, you might want to try swapping out the relay with a new one to see if that solves the problem. It’s a pretty straightforward fix and doesn’t cost much.